( demon ) in the dark. aerys/belladonna, blitz

Cicuta maculata (Water Hemlock): Among the deadliest known plants in Panem. Flower resembles that of Queen Anne’s Lace, and plant itself is easily mistaken for edible parsley.

Bella’s finger paused as she skimmed over the page, head tilting slightly. But that was always the way of poisons, wasn’t it? They looked pretty and innocent enough until you were on the floor gasping, hands stained scarlet and body in a full but futile rebellion. The plant piqued her interest, but Rodrigo wouldn’t like it. It was fast, but violent and messy. Nightlock was still his favorite, undeniably clean and quiet.

(The first time she’d taken it, she’d been bedridden for nearly a week. Sometimes he would come in and hold her hand, telling her about the things she would be able to do someday if she could just persevere. Nightlock was his favorite poison, but ever since that week she’d always been looking for alternatives.)

Groaning in frustration, she shoved herself off the bookshelf she’d been leaning against and moved toward one of the tables, spreading the book open and dropping into the nearby chair. She flipped through a few more pages before stopping on one that made her lips quirk up into a half smile. Abrus precatorius. Rosary peas. Slowly lethal, they were subtle in a way Rodrigo would love. A fraction of the toxins in a single seed would be enough to cause organ failure within four days. They were rare, though, found in scarcity in Four. Not even her family would be able to get their hands on them.

Her jaw clenched and she shoved the open book off the table, waiting to hear the satisfying sound of it hitting the ground. Instead, she heard the much softer thud of it hitting a person. She was on her feet in an instant, full of pretty and apologetic smiles while desperately hoping he either wouldn’t recognize the book or wouldn’t recognize her. “I am so sorry. That definitely wasn’t supposed to - er, well, I wasn’t aiming for you, anyway.”